As we continue our journey through the Trei Asar, we have now entered the last third of the twelve “minor” prophets! We have Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi left to cover. And this week, we’re going to take a look at Sefer Zephaniah.
So, what comes to mind when you think about Zephaniah? What do we know about this navi (prophet)?
Well, Zephaniah has a unique beginning among the prophets in that he traces his ancestry back four generations in the first verse. It’s not unusual for a prophet to tell us who his father was, and sometimes even his grandfather. But four generations is unusual!
Zephaniah 1:1 traces his ancestry back to someone named Hezekiah. Now, we’re not sure if this is the famous King Hezekiah, but it’s possible. And if so, Zephaniah would have been of royal descent, which might explain why he traces his lineage back so far. But again, we can’t say for sure.
Verse 1 also places Zephaniah during the reign of King Josiah of Judah, which puts him somewhere between 641 and 609 BCE.
Now, Zephaniah begins his prophecy with a HUGE jolt! This prophet wastes no time getting down to business. He is clear that judgment and exile are coming, and they’re coming strong. In Zephaniah 1:2-6, HaShem announces that He will sweep away the wicked and stretch out His hand against Judah and Jerusalem. And what is the reason given?
Idolatry.
According to verse 5, the people were bowing down and swearing allegiance to HaShem while also worshipping the stars and other gods. In other words, they were worshipping the God of Israel and pagan gods at the same time. Today, we call this syncretism.
Verse 4 also mentions a remnant of Baal worship, and verse 9 refers to those who “leap over the threshold.” Interestingly, Targum Jonathan connects this practice to a Philistine custom involving the pagan god Dagon. So idolatry is strongly emphasized here. And in light of that, I’d like to focus on something for a moment – specifically, how idolatry is often present in our world today.
I think the form of idolatry most prevalent today is the kind Paul mentions in Colossians 3. Paul essentially says that there can be a spirit of idolatry in how we conduct our everyday lives.
Colossians 3:5 mentions sexual immorality, impurity, evil desire, and covetousness, which Paul says “amounts to idolatry.”
I like the way the NASB uses that phrase, “amounts to idolatry,” because it captures the point that these things are not literally the worship of idols, but they can function as idolatry in our lives. How?
I think Paul’s point is that when these things dominate our mindset, they become objects of devotion. Pornography, addictions, excessive striving for material things…we may not literally bow down and worship these things or call them our “god.” But they can control our lives. And I believe Paul is saying that this amounts to idolatry.
Now, to press this point a little further, in my experience, one of the MOST common forms of idolatry in our culture has to do with people. What I mean is that it is quite common, and easy, to make a relationship or another person into an idol in our lives.
But here’s the thing: If another person or relationship dominates our identity and attention to the point that our peace and sense of value are determined by that person, then that relationship has taken a place on the throne of our heart. And we weren’t designed for that.
We are designed for God to be on the throne of our hearts.
And I guarantee you that the person who has become the object of this kind of “worship” is suffering in some way as a result. Why? Because people are not built to be worshipped or to bear that burden!
Relationships that involve idolatry often burn out because one or both people cannot withstand the stress involved. So I think we need to take idolatry seriously…and personally.
Well, let’s get back to Zephaniah.
Chapter 2 begins with a strong call for teshuvah, or returning to God. Zephaniah 2:3 says:
“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.”
I’m interested in that word “perhaps.”
How does HaShem hide the righteous from trouble when judgment surrounds the broader culture? That’s an interesting and difficult question.
But the point is clear: even in the face of judgment, HaShem calls people to seek Him, pursue righteousness, and walk in humility.
Moving on, in chapter 3 we see HaShem bringing justice to the nations. And in a sense, we get an answer to a question Habakkuk raised a few blogs ago in this series. Remember, Habakkuk wanted to know why the wicked prosper. And here, God makes it clear that the nations will not escape His judgment.
I think God is saying to the Jewish people then, and to us now: Learn from history. Justice may come slowly…but justice does come.
That’s a hard thing to keep in view when injustice surrounds us. But that’s what the faithful do. They live with both feet in this world, but they look ahead to a better day. As Habakkuk said, the righteous live by their faithfulness.
Well, Zephaniah has a beautiful ending. The prophet gives us an incredible vision of the future when Israel and the nations are redeemed. Zephaniah 3:9 says:
“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.”
Now, what exactly does this reference to a “pure speech” mean? Honestly, I’m not sure.
I’ve heard some suggest that this points to a future universalization of Hebrew. That could be. But primarily, I read this as a transformation that leads the nations to call upon the name of HaShem.
And then in verse 11, we get another incredible statement. HaShem says that Israel will no longer be put to shame because of the deeds by which they rebelled against Him. Let’s think about that for a moment.
The shame of Israel’s past is removed.
Now, it took exile, and more than one exile, for Israel to reach the point where they are walking in humility. But according to Zephaniah, they do get there.
And I think there is a powerful personal application here as well.
Many of us are bound by shameful things we have done in the past.
Shame is very stubborn. It holds on tight.
But walking in the light of God’s redemption and forgiveness involves trusting that HaShem releases us from shame.
And the final verses of Zephaniah are really great stuff.
Listen to Zephaniah 3:15-17:
“The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.”
And then:
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
What an incredible picture of the future! May God hasten the coming of this day!
